Yeruham
From Free net encyclopedia
Current revision
Yeruham (Hebrew: Template:HbryodTemplate:HbrshevaTemplate:HbrreshTemplate:HbrqubbuzTemplate:HbrhetTemplate:HbrqamazTemplate:Hbrmems, Yəruḥam) is a town in the Israeli Negev desert in the Southern District of Israel. It has a population of Sephardi Jews as well as some Haredi Jews. Its area is 34,000 dunams (34 km²) and its population is 8,700 (2003 census). The mayor of Yeruham is Amram Mitzna.
Yeruham was a locality named Tel Rahma in the 10th century BCE, and its precise location is today's west Yeruham.
Modern Yeruham was founded in 1951 as Kfar Yeruham (Template:Hbrkfar Template:HbryodTemplate:HbrshevaTemplate:HbrreshTemplate:HbrqubbuzTemplate:HbrhetTemplate:HbrqamazTemplate:Hbrmems, Kəfar Yəruḥam), but its name was changed to Yeruham in 1962. As such, it became one of the first Ayarot Pituah (lit. Development Towns). The Development Town project was a venture by Israel to form a multitude of new cities in Israel, in previously unsettled areas or areas with large Arab populations, with the goal of spreading out the immigrant population instead of having them all settle in large cities or villages.
Today, Yeruham is regarded as the example of this project's failure - although a few development towns thrived, such as Karmiel and Nazareth 'Illit, most of them did not. High unemployment, poor education, and a high crime rate, are all typical of failed development towns.
The failure of the town is generally attributed to its mayor, Barukh Elmekies, who served terms on two occasions, and has been known for careless spending. On the other hand, the mayor gave Yeruham its unique feel, by creating a lake in the town (in the middle of the desert), and by proposing a new state (country) named Yeruham.de:Jerocham he:ירוחם